Market Trends

Iconic candy corn -- the polarizing Halloween treat
Candy corn, first introduced in the 1880s with its iconic triangular shape and three-tone color pattern, is the "most hated Halloween treat" as well as the "most polarizing confection," according to a Huffington Report Poll. However, about 35 million pounds of the confection are sold annually, according to the NCA. Maybe it is helped by its nutritional content: 28 grams of sugar and 140 calories per handful, and it is fat-free. PolicyMic (10/30)

Halloween candy sales continue reliable growth
Halloween candy sales are expected for rise again with Americans spending $2.4 billion this year, up 1% from last year, according to the NCA. This continues the trend of reliable sales growth in recent years, even through economic downturns. "Candy plays such an important role in so many of our family traditions. We don't want to give it up even when times are tough," said NCA spokeswoman Susan Whiteside. MarketWatch (10/30)

ADM Q3 results stable, no update on cocoa sale
ADM reported third-quarter earnings of $476 million and no updates to the sale of its cocoa business to Cargill. Strong performance in the oilseeds business, improved margins for ethanol and stability of agricultural operations were the driving forces behind the company's stability. The sale of ADM's cocoa business will allow the company to refocus on its soy and grain operations. CandyAndSnackToday.com (10/29), Reuters (10/29)

German gum market driven by premium products
Premium products and claims that go beyond oral hygiene will drive the growth of gum in Germany, where it represents the smallest but fastest growing confectionery category, according to Canadean. "As an impulse product, gum needs to return to its roots: Consumers are likely to choose between gums that meet their need for a treat, or which offer additional fun and enjoyment than a 'basic' gum featuring health benefits," said Ronan Stafford, a report analyst at Canadean. ConfectioneryNews.com (France) (10/29)

New Fran's Chocolates chef to grow product line
Fran's Chocolates hired chef and restaurateur Scott Carsberg to work with Dylan Bigelow, Fran's director of of chocolates, in growing the product line and sourcing new ingredients. The Seattle chocolate company is seeing steady 10% growth year over year in its three stores and sells an average of 25,000 pieces of chocolate daily. Popular products include salted caramels in both milk and dark chocolate and coconut gold bars. American City Business Journals/Puget Sound/Washington, D.C. (10/29)

Retailers hanging tough on prices as cocoa costs rise
Cocoa prices are at a two-year high, and the cost is expected to continue on its upward trend due to increased demand in developing countries. Retail prices remain mostly unchanged since the chocolate products currently on the shelf are not affected by current cocoa prices. However, retail prices may be forced to go up in the spring, with some retailers in central Pennsylvania expecting a 40% increase in bulk cocoa prices. WPMT-TV (York, Pa.) (10/28)

Other News

Diet & Health

Study touts need for reference-point info on nutrition labels
Nutrition labels with reference-point information at the nutrient level, such as a traffic-light system, are best for consumers to evaluate whether a food is healthy, according to a study in the journal Appetite. Researchers from the Netherlands studied different types of labeling and found that the traffic-light system met key goals of communicating the healthfulness of a food across product lines, among options in the same food category and when the product was evaluated alone or compared with other products. FoodNavigator (10/28)

Puratos taps into indulgence with reduced-fat fillings
Puratos launched its Cremfil Ultim fillings globally in three flavors, chocolate, hazelnut and white chocolate, and reduced the fat content to 10%. The company claims the fillings quadruple the shelf life of baked products because the fillings prevent water migration between the filling and the crumb. BakeryAndSnacks.com (France) (10/28)